The NBA Soap Opera

Students at the University of Oregon know how depressing winter time in Eugene is. For sports fans the NBA season makes the consistent downpour and couch riding somewhat enjoyable. Oh, and let’s not forget about the exciting college basketball season, which at times offers more drama than an episode of Jersey Shore. The difference is that the NBA consists of guys like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose, players who offer entertainment you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

The NBA lockout might be irrelevant to California residents, who can indulge in the beautiful beaches and constant sunshine. Unfortunately, my fellow classmates and I are forced to hibernate during the winter and having a reliable source of entertainment is vital to our ability to learn. Am I exaggerating? Duh. Either way, it’s important to take a break from school work and NBA games offer sports fans a method of relaxation.

David Stern admitted the owners and the players have a long way to go to reach an agreement. Photo credit to Eric Richardson.

Sports journalist, Russell Scibetti wrote an article about how NBA teams are communicating with their fans during the lockout, stating that the Los Angeles Lakers were one of the few teams doing so. (NBA Lockout) The NBA is a business and team owners must act in the best interest of the franchise by providing their fans with frequent updates regarding the status of the upcoming season. The owners need to realize that NBA fans are one of a kind and a portion of them determine who to cheer for depending on what team their favorite player is on. Clearly this isn’t true for all fans as some have been loyal to a specific team since childhood, and others have an obligation to support their home town team.

The point is that the lockout has demonstrated that nothing is promised in the NBA and the same applies to franchises. Team owners need to make it a priority to communicate with fans in order to maintain a long-term relationship for the future. As an Oregonian and devoted Portland Trailblazers fan I expect some kind of statement from the team, preparing me for what to expect. At this point I haven’t heard anything, though I don’t know where I’d look and I shouldn’t have to. If the Blazers had released a statement evidently it wasn’t accessible enough to reach social media outlets, given that I do follow the Blazers official twitter account.

At this point it’s hard to predict the future of the NBA, but what I do know is that team owners need to spend more time covering the PR aspect of their organization. In a league consisting of 30 teams there’s no guarantee a fan will remain loyal during this time of chaos. Why should a fan support an organization that shows a lack of appreciation to their fan base? In other words they encourage you to purchase tickets and team memorabilia, but expect your loyalty to the organization free of cost. The relationship between fans and organizations is a two way street and a team’s commitment to PR ensures the relationship is a healthy one. If the NBA lockout stands, fans will continue to express frustration and the last thing the NBA needs is a decrease in their loyal followers. Sounds like the owners need a good dose of PR.